Knowledge Base

Acronis Backup software may conflict with software that encrypts files or partition structure

Description

Acronis Backup software may fail to back up or restore partitions or files encrypted by specialized software.

The following situations can occur:

• Acronis Backup software may fail to access an encrypted partition from Windows and thus will not back it up;
• Acronis Backup software may fail to resize an encrypted partition during restore;
• Acronis Backup software may back up an encrypted partition from Windows, but restoring such a partition will make it unencrypted. If an encrypted system partition is backed up and then restored, then the machine will become unbootable after the restore. This is only true when working in Windows;
• Some files may be missing in the backup.

More information

Acronis Backup software can always create a raw (sector-by-sector) backup of an encrypted partition when booted from Acronis Bootable Rescue Media. See also Creating a Sector-By-Sector Backup with Acronis Products.

If the encryption key is based on the hard drive or some hardware serial numbers, a sector-by-sector copy may not work as expected. The best solution will then be to create the backup in Windows. Then, when restoring it, do it as you would do it normally. The only difference is that after the restore you will need to rebuild the MBR. See Restoring Windows Boot Loader Manually.

See also:

• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with ARCserve
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with SysMetrix
• Compatibility of Acronis True Image with NTBackup
• Compatibility of Acronis Products with HP Backup and Recovery
• Compatibility of Acronis True Image with Kidswatch Time Control
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with File Securer by Q Software
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with Utimaco SafeGuard Easy
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with ScriptLogic Desktop Authority
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with Windows BitLocker
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with PGP Software
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with McAfee Endpoint Protection
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 and Norman Endpoint Protection Compatibility
• Compatibility of Acronis Secure Zone with Low-level Disk Encryption
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with Check Point Encryption Software
• After Restoring a Check Point Encrypted Disk the Check Point Management Does Not Open
• Compatibility of Acronis True Image with TrueCrypt
• Compatibility of Acronis Backup Software with Aladdin Secret Disk